Apparatus for molding dough.



J. & H. L. CALLOW.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING DOUGH.

APPLICATION meo MAY9.1913.

1,176,648. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

HEW

Mac, @wLW Wrm J. & H. L. CALLOW.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING DOUGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, I913.

AW m J. & H. L. CALLOW.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING DOUGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1913.

1, 176,648. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wlgesses Q/WAMV WWW .l. & H. L. CALLOW.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING DOUGH.

APPLICATION man MAY 9. 1913.

1,176,648. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. & H. L. CALLOW.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING DOUGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, I913.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WEITBEEEB JOHN CALLOW AND HEBSCHEL L. CALLOW, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING DOUGH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application filed May 9, 1918. Serial No. 766,551.

1 '0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN CALLow and HERSCHEL LIVINGSTONE CALLow,subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at. Liverpool, in thecounty of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of England, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Molding Dough, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the folding of dough to form. Scotch, tin,sandwich, or Irish turn-over bread and other like loaves, without handmanipulation.

The object of the invention is to provide a reliable apparatus forsheeting or slabbing and folding the dough pieces as they are receivedfrom the divider, by maintaining the dough in continuous movement during the whole of the folding operations.

According to this invention, the flattened dough pieces are firstsubjected while under continuous movement to the action of laterallydisposed devices for the purpose of folding over their sides, so thattheir edges shall lap over or meet in the center, and then after beingsubjected to a flattening operation, the said dough pieces are folded orthe edges lapped over one another by mechanically operated folders,adapted, during the time they are performing the folding operation, toadvance at the same speed that the carrier is moving the dough pieces,and con sequently there are no rest or stopping positions of the dough.The dough is then again flattened and afterward subjected to laterallydisposed devices for the purpose of folding the dough into its finalshape. The molding of the dough is done while it moves through themachine. When more than one carrier is used they may be set at rightangles to each other when the folding tools can be so arranged that theyneed not rise to allow the folded dough to pass on to the next operationor the second folding can be performed by passing the carrier and doughthrough folding tools or a shoe.

One continuously moving endless carrier can be made to convey the doughpieces right through the machine, or two or more continuously movingendless carriers may be used, in which case the first may be of the typein which two of its rolls have a reciprocating movement as well as a.rotary one, so as to alternately advance a bight of the carrier with thedough pieces resting thereon to folding tools arranged in connectionwith a second carrier, and withdraw it, the delivery of the dough piecesfrom the bight on to the second carrier being effected by the movingback of the bight of the first carrier. We will now describe the latterarrangement.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan of an apparatus, partsof which are shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 8; Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6represent parts which can be operated alone; Fig. 2 is a side elevation,and Fig. 3, a plan view of one convenient arrangement of dough moldingmachinery embodying our invention; Fig. 4, a side elevation on anenlarged scaleof the folders shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a sideelevation; and Fig. 6, a plan view of another convenient arrangement ofdough molding machinery embodying our invention; Fig. 7 is a sideelevation, and Fig. 8, a plan view of a folding appliance for foldingthe dough twice in the same direction. Fig. 9 is a side elevation andFig. 10 a plan view of the mechanism for operating the folders shown inFigs. 7 and 8. Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical transverse sections of asplit belt device showing the split belt passing through the shoe andwhen in the plane position respectively.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 will be more clearly understood from thedetailed drawings, in which however different ref- 'erence numerals areemployed. 60 is a belt on to which the dough is fed. 61 are rolls whichbend the carrier so as to fold the dough. 63 are folders, 64 is aflattening roller, 65 rollers to bend the carrier. 66 is anothercarrier, 67 being aflattening roll. 69 is another carrier at rightangles to 66 and 68 are folders. 70 is still another carrier, 71 aflattening roller, 72 folding rollers, 73 a flattening roller, and 74folding tools carried on a carrier 80. 75 is a guide to cause the toolsto operate. 76 and 77 are carriers, 78 a flattening roller, 79 foldingrollers, 82 a flattening roller, and 81 folding tools. The folders 63are reciprocating and fold the dough during the reciprocan. T e lders74. are mounted on the 1, 2 or pressure bands at the feeding end of themachine, which compress them and spread each of them into flat sheetsand deposit them on to the continuously moving first endless carrier 3,driven so as to convey the sheets onward to a pair of rolls 5. Theserolls are adapted to bend the carrier from its sides into channel shape,and turn up the lateral edges of the sheeted dough pleces on thecarrier, and fold them inward so that their edges shall meet in thecenter Instead of rolls 5, a shoe or channel may h used. The continuousmoving carrier carries the folded dough pieces below a pos tively drivenpressure band or roller or rollers 6 disposed above the carrier 3 orother means for flattening them a second time into sheets or slabs. Onleaving the space between the roller and band, the bight of thecontinuous moving carrier 3, conveys the now slabbed dough to foldingtools 7 arranged in connection with the second carrier 8. Each of thedough pieces (which follow each other fairly rapidly) is brought incourse up to the end of the bight by its forward travel, and there fallsoff the end on to the folding tools 7 arranged in connection with thesecond continuously traveling carrier 8. The crank pin 46- on the wheel45 moves the link 47 and thus at 48 operates the rod 50 pivoted at 49.The end 51 of this rod effects the advance of the bight. The Wheel 45also transmits movement to the roller 6 and the wheel 52 and thence to23 and 53. It will be seen therefrom that the object of the bight is toadvance the dough, then, by withdrawing the bight, to deposit the doughat the proper place on the second carrier (which consists of an endlessband) and at the proper moment to be received and operated on by thefolders. These folders then at once commence to perform the foldingoperation, and at the same time as the folding movement is going on,travel onward at the same speed that the second carrier is traveling sothat there is no rest or stop position of the dough. In one convenientapplication of the invention, these folders comprise a pair or pairsofpivotally mounted folding tools or arms, the hinged elements 7 of eachpair being spaced apart for the purpose of regulating the size of theloaf, the said folders being mounted immediately above the carrier 8 onguide bars 9 so as to have a reciprocating motion. This reciprocatingmovement is derived from any suitable prime mover such as a cam 10 (orcrank) or mechanism such as would give a reciprocating motion, operatingfor instance a lever 11 and connecting rod 12 which is coupled to theframe 13 to which the folders 7 are pivoted, the arrangement being suchthat during the time the folders are performing the folding operation,they will travel longitudinally parallel with the carrier 8 and hencethe folding is done by or during the reciprocating movement of thetools. When they have completed the doubling or folding of the dough,they rise clear of the folded dough, and travel back in the returndirection to repeat the operation on the next dough piece or pieces.This lifting of the folders 7 may be accomplished in various ways suchas deflecting the guides, so that the folders shall rise clear, or byhinging the guides 9 at one end at 14, so that while normally they areheld parallel with the carrier 8, they can be lifted at intervals abouttheir pivot 14 into a sloping position, such as my means of a cam 15operating a lever 16 and a connecting-rod 17 coupled to the guides 9.The second carrier 8 may be arranged at right angles to carrier 3, whenthe folding tools can be so arranged that it is not necessary for themto lift after folding the dough. This is shown in Fig. 1 where thecarrier 69 is at right angles to the carrier 66 and the folding tools 68need not therefore lift.

18 and 19 are two pairs of stops mounted (in connection with eachfolding member 7) on the guide bars 9 by means of stop hinges 20, andthe folders 7 are provided with tappets 21 and 121. In the course oftheir forward travel, one of the tappets 21 of the rear folder, strikesthe first stop 18 and so turns the folder 90 degrees and immediatelyafterward the other tappet 21 strikes the second stop 18 and socompletes the folding of the rear end of the dough piece. The rearfolder may be turned back by the action of a spring 22, and immediatelyafter one of the tappets 121 strikes against one of the stops 19 anddirectly afterward the other tappet strikes against the other stop 19,thus folding the front end of the dough piece. This front folder thensprings back by the action of its spring 22, leaving the dough foldedinto a form of triple thickness. The object of making the stops withstop hinges, is to enable them to act as clicks, so as to give ifnecessary when the folders slide back. We do not however limit ourinvention to any particular type of folding tools, as any suitable kindof folding tools or appliances may be used. The said folders 7 areadapted to fold the dough at right angles to the folds given t0 thedough by the rolls 4 or shoes. \Vhen thls f lding is completed, and thefolders have risen clear of the folded dough, such folded dough (stillcontinuously moved onward by the carrier 8) is presented to anotherflattening appliance such as a postively driven band or a roll 23 whichflattens the dough, and on leaving this pressure device 23, the carrier8 passes through a channelformed for example by opposing spaced rolls 24having surfaces made of the required shape and axes set at the requiredan les (or by a shoe) adapted to bend the flexl 1e carrier 8 from itssides into channel shape 1n cross section, and so impart a lateralfolding action to the dough which molds it into its final shape 25. Thisbending of the carrier from its sides, is performed gradually and theband may be slit to facilitate this, the bend commencing at a point inadvance of the flattening appliance 23 (where the carrier 8 is flat) andgradually increasing to its maximum at the place where the carrierpasses between the rolls or shoe. Then the carrier after passing therolls or shoe, gradually straightens itself transversely again, and thedough after receiving such final shape falls off the carrier by gravityon to a delivery band or is taken off by hand. The various operationsand the appliances for effecting them, may, if desired, be repeatedoftener than has been mentioned. Furthermore the rolls 5 for foldingover the sides of the dough pieces may be replaced by the channel orshoe through which the carrier passes, or the rolls 24 may even havesubstituted for them, the channel or shoe for giving to the dough itsfinal shape.

A certain amount of slack may be provided in the carrier if desired, toenable it the more easily to pass through the channel or shoe and bendfrom its sides into channel shape. In such a case a loaded or springjockey roller may be provided if desired which will yield a little topay out the necessary slack, or take it up. Also the carrier may be slitto assist in deflecting it when passing through the shoes as abovementioned.

It is not essential for the first carrier 3 to be of the type which hasan advancing and retreating bight. For instance it may be an ordinaryendless carrier 26 (Figs. 5 and 6) passing around rolls that revolve ina uniform position, but the roll 27 at the leading end is preferablysmall, and a jockey roll 28 is provided between the two rolls to keepthe leading end of the advancing and returning portions of the carrierparallel, and very close together, and so form as it were a thinnon-advancing or retreating bight. The second carrier 29 is an endlessone, ha ing hinged to the surface thereof, the folding tools or arms 30,the elements of which are spaced apart, so as to allow the dough to befolded the proper size. A number of these foldin devices 30 are attachedto the carrier 29, all along it at intervals apart, corresponding to thespacing or positioning of the dough pieces on the first carrier 26, andthese folders travel with the second carrier 29, moving forward with thecarrier after receiving a dough portion, and returning after delivery ofthe dough portion, to the front end with the returnin portion of thecarrier to receive a fIBSE charge. In these figures the rolls 5 of Figs.2 and 3 may have substituted for them, diagonal rolls 4 which turn upthe lateral edges of sheeted dough pieces on the carrier, and fold theminward. In action therefore the leading end of the first continuouslymoving carrier 26 places a. charge of folded dough flattened intosuitable shape on one of the folding appliances 30 of the secondcontinuously moving carrier 29, so that the dough rests on thecarrierand on the folding arms or tools. These arms or tools as the carriertravels on, act to bring together the two opposite ends of the flatteneddough and fold and compress them on to the center po tion which liesupon the carrier so that the dough assumes the form of a triple layersomewhat compressed, and then when these arms or tools 30 have turnedback, two other arms or tools 31 bring together the two opposite sidesof the dough piece and fold and compress them. These operations areeffected during the travel of the carrier and finally the folded andcompressed dough piece falls off the carrier by gravity or is taken offby hand, or when required to hold the loaf until it comes over a tin orthe like placed underneath to receive it, that is to say in the case oftin bread. The folders return with the returning length of the carrier29. The object of bringing the advancing and returning portions of theleading end of the first carrier 26 close together is to enable theleading end to insinuate itself into a position immediately and onlyvery slightly raised above the surface of the sec ond carrier 29, sothat the dough will only have a short distance to fall from the firstcarrier on to the second.

If desired one carrier only may be used, as the dough from the sheetersmay be deposited on the folders of this carrier, and have its edgesturned up and pressed and then the folders operate to do the requiredfolding. The folders 30 of Figs. 5 and 6 may for example be operated ina manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. Aconvenient way of operating the folders 31 is to provide each folderwith an arm 32 having an anti-friction roller 33 at the end. Theserollers 33 come in due course against the upwardly and inwardly curvingfixed tracks 34, and travel along them, and so turn up the folders 31and the dough on them, whereby the final shape is given to the doughwhen the folders reach the point 35. The track now curves outwardly anddownwardly, thus causing the folders to separate, but leaving the doughfolded which then falls off the carrier by figravity as alreadydescribed, or is taken 0 by hand. Instead however of making the saidtracks 34 curve outwardly and downwardly as described, they may becontinued in parallel planes as shown by dotted lines 36, Fig. .5, sothat the folders 31 will continue to hold the dou h until it comes overa pan 37 placed un erneath to receive it. Here the tracks 36 end, andthe folders 31 fly back by the action of springs thus liberating thedough.

It will be seen that the folders 30 and 31 fold the dough twice inopposite directions. It has however already been mentioned that anysuitable type of folding tools may be used, and that the machine isapplicable for forming Irish turnover bread. For this purpose thefolders may be arranged to fold the dough twice in the same direction.This may be effected by providing pivoted folders 30 as before pivotedat 39 but auxiliary folders are provided hinged at 40 at each side ofthe center part 38 (Figs. 7 and 8) the axes of all the, hinges 39 and 40being parallel. In action the folders 30 turning on their hinges 39 foldover the ends of the dough piece so that their edges meet in the center,and then after the said folders 30 have turned back, the hinges 39 arekept rigid, and the auxiliary folders turn on their hinges 40 and foldthe dough piece a second time in the same direction.

The mode of action of these folders will be seen more clearly from Figs.9 and 10. The axes of the hinged parts are provided with torsionalsprings 91 which serve to effect the return movement of the folders. Theactual folding movement itself is effected by tappets engaging withcatches on the frame of the machine. Thus the left hand flap 30 is firstrotated through 90 by the tappet 84 engaging the catch 86. The tappet 83then engages the catch 87 thus effecting a further rotation through 90.The right hand flap 30 is similarly rotated by the catches 89 and 90engaging the tappets 93, 94.

' The inner flaps are simply rotated through 90 by the tappets 85 and 92engaging the catches 88 and 95.

We have already mentioned that instead of the opposing spaced rolls 5and 24 a shoe or channel may be used, consisting for example of a pairof cheeks having a shape corresponding approximately to the curvature ofthe rolls, and adapted to bend the carrier from its sides into channelshape, and to fold the dough that is lying on it. We do not howeverlimit ourselves to any one form or arrangement of the folding tools 4,5, 7, 24, 30, 31 or shoes nor to any particular type of machine, as ourinvention may be advantageously employed in variously constructedmachines for the folding or like treatment of dough.

Figs. 11 and 12 show the s lit belt device mentioned above. 100 is a scc or channel by which folding may be effected by passing the belttherethrough. We find that a much better effect is obtained by splittingthe belt since this enables lateral divergence thus causing the skin ofthe dough to become tight. Fig. 11 shows the two portions of the beltsplit, longitudinally, passing through the shoe where they have divergedfrom the position shown in Fig. 12. In the plane position as in Fig. 12,it is desirable that the belts should overla somewhat so that whendivergence takes ace in the deflected position, the belts sha i notseparate so far as to leave a gap between them.

We declare that what we claim is 1. A dough molding apparatus comprisingan endless carrier, means to move said carrier continuously, andcompound folding tools spaced apart on said carrier and adapted toimpart to a slab of dough two folds at right angles.

2. A dough molding apparatus comprising an endless carrier, means tomove said carrier continuously, and compound folding tools spaced aparton said carrier comprising two pairs of pivoted flaps with their axes atright angles.

3. A dough molding apparatus comprising an endless carrier, means tomove said carrier continuously, compound folding tools comprising twopairs of pivoted flaps with their axes at right angles, curved tracks,and members adapted to run in said tracks and to cause the inner pair offlaps to effect the folding operation.

4. A dough molding apparatus comprising an endless carrier slitlongitudinally, and a device for deflecting the edges of said carmen 5.A dough molding apparatus comprising an endless carrier, means to movesaid carrier continuously, compound folding tools comprising two pairsof pivoted flaps with their axes at right angles, converging tracks, andmembers adapted to run in said tracks and to cause the inner pair offlaps to effect the folding operation. 6. A dough molding apparatuscomprising an endless carrier, pivoted flap folding tools, means todeliver slabs of dough thereto, and means to rotate said folding toolsabout axes parallel to the direction of movement of the carriercomprising members connected therewith and engaging converging tracks.

7. A dough molding apparatus comprising an endless carrier, and compoundfolding tools spaced apart on said carrier and adapted to impart to aslab of dough two folds at right angles.

8. A dough molding apparatus comprising an endless carrier, and compoundfolding tools spaced apart on said carrier comprising two pairs ofpivoted flaps with their axes at right angles.

9. A dough molding apparatus comprising an endless carrier, compoundfolding tools comprising two pairs of pivoted flaps with their axes atright angles, curved tracks, and members adapted to run in said tracksand to cause the inner pair of flaps to effect the folding operation.

10. A dough molding apparatus comprising means to move dough piecesforward, in combination with pivoted flap-folding means adapted tooperate on the moving dough to bring both edges together near the centerof the piece, and means to perform a folding operation at right anglesto the first fold, all arranged so that the whole folding operation isefiected under continuous movement.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names this 28 day ofApril 1913, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOHN CALLOW. HERSCHEL L. CALLOW.

Witnesses to the signature of the said John Callow:

G. C. DYMOND, W. H. BEESTON.

Witnesses to the signature of the said Herschel Livingstone Callow:

A. S. WITHERDEN, H. K. JENNINGS.

